Display-stand.



PATENTED MAR. 26, 1907.

;W. H. GLENN. DISPLAY STAND. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 16. 1906 2 SEEETB-SHE T 1.

THE NORRIS PETERS co., WASHINGTON, n. c.

No. 848,237. 1' PATENTBD MABHQG, 1907.

' w. H. GLENN.

' DISPLAY STAND. APPLICATION FILED AUG.16.1906.-

rnn STATES PATENT FFIOE.

WILL IA-M HOLT GLENN, OF EL PASO, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TOBRADFORD HARDIE, OF EL PASO, TEXAS.

DISPLAY-STAND.

Specification of Letters Patent. I

Patented March 26, 1907.

Application filed August 16, 1906. $erial No. 330,822.

To ctZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM HOLT GLENN, a citizen of the United States,residing at El Paso, in the county of El Paso and State of Texas, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Display-Stands, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to devices for assisting salesmen in exhibitingdry goods, and more especially silks and dress goods, to prospectivepurchasers, though, if desired, the device may be used for exhibitinggoods for a longer time, as in store-windows or in substantially thesame way in which ordinary racks and stands are used for exhibitinggoods throughout the day on counters and show-cases in stores.

In exhibiting goods, and especially dress goods, to prospectivepurchasers it is of the utmost importance to exhibit them in such manneras to produce the best possible effect upon the eye of the purchaser.The method usually resorted to by salesmen for this purpose is to drapethe goods over the arm. This method, which necessitates the holding outof ones arm for quite a long time becomes extremely fatiguing and forthis reason is often shirked by salesmen, and consequently goods are notdisplayed to the Moreover, in exhlbitmg best advantage. dress goods itis often necessary to exhibit along with the goods the trimmings to gowith them. This becomes very awkward and practically impossible to do tothe best advantage when the salesman has to drape the goods over onearm. a

The above objections to the present method of exhibiting goods may beovercome to some extent by draping the goods over the ordinarydisplay-stands placed upon the top of the store-counter. These stands,however, when not in actual use are often much in the way, and are alsorather hard to drape goods over to produce the best effect. hen notactually in the way, it often happens that these stands cannot be foundjust at the time they are most wanted.

The primary object of this invention is the production of a device whichwill hold the goods being exhibited and so arranged that the bestpossible draping effect may be ob tained and at the same time capable ofbeing put out of the way when not 1n use. More over, these devices arealways in place, so

way.

that a salesman may know just where to look for them.

I accomplish the foregoing obj eets by providing, among other parts, anupright or main support, which is so mounted as to be movable up anddown through the top of the counter,- so that the upright may extendupward from the surface of the counter to any desired extent, withinlimits, and pass downward through said counter and out of the At or nearthe upper end of this up right I provide means for retaining the goodson said upright while exhibiting them, and preferably beneath the top ofthe counter are means controllable by the salesman for automaticallyraising the upright to any desired extent.

A specific embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, wherein Figure 1 represents a longitudinal vertical section ofa store-counter with portions broken away, showing my inventionin sideelevation and partly in section, the said counter being viewed from therear; Fig. 2, a side elevation of the stand with goods draped thereon;Fig. 3, a detail longitudinal sectional view of the upper end of theupright, showing the clamping device in the closed position; Fig. 4, asimilar view showing the clamping device in the operative or openposition; Fig. 5, a similar view in which the section is taken at rightangles to that of Figs. 2 and 3 and in which one of the sup porting-rodsis shown within the upper end of the upright and the other rod in theoper ative position. Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the upright with thegoods-retaining rods as shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is a cross-section takenon the line 2 2 of Fig. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows;Fig. 8, a detail view of the clamping device for controlling thedownward movement of the weight,

showing a portion of the counter-top in section; Fig. 9, an enlargedfragmentary view of the lower end of the upright and the stopframetherein, and Fig. 10, an enlarged detail view of the clamping deviceshown in Fig. 8.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

1 represents a store-counter, and 2 a short,

preferably metal, guide-tube passing through the top of the counter andprovided with a flange or thin collar 3, adapted to rest upon easy ofaccess to the salesman.

the top of the counter. The outer edge of this flange is preferablybeveled, so that the flange will not form'an obstruction on the top ofthe counter. Substantially the same effect may be produced bycountersinking the flange in the top of the counter. threaded on itsexterior and held in. position by means of a nut 4, which binds againsta washer 5, inserted between the nut and the lower side of thecounter-to p.

Adapted to slide vertically in the collar 3 is an upright 6 whichconsists, preferably, of' a highly-polished or plated metal tube. Se-

curedto the lower end of this upright is a stop'or bu'lfer7, which isadapted to engage at the end of" the upward travel of the upright 6astbpj-ring'S, through which the upright 6' passes. This stop-ring 8 ismade fast to a bracket 9, secured to the lower side of the'coui'it'ert'op. Secured to the buffer 7 by means of a screw 7 to allow the uprightto turn on a ver'tical axis, is an arm 10, to which is secured-a cord orits equivalent 11. This cord passes'over two or more pulleys 12' 13,suitably'locat'e'd beneath the counter, and to theend of" the corddepending from the pulle'y 13 'is secured aweight'14;

For the purpose of holding the weight 14 up'in'the dotted-line positionshown in'Fig; 1, in'which position the upright 6 is down, as shown indotted lines in the same figure, and forholdin'g' the said upright inany'position interinediate between its extreme upper andlowerlpositions, I provide means for operat'ion by the' salesman toclamp or retain the cord 11. The means which I- have shownfor thispurpose consists of a spring-plate 15, made fast at one endto a rigidangle-plate 16, secured to the lower side of the counterto'p; Thecor'd'll passes between'thespring' platels" and the plate 16 and below aguidepin 17, (seeFigs. 8 and 10,) made fast to the late'16l The pressureof the sprin'g plate againstthe c'ord'is suflicient to hold it in anydesiredposition. For the purpose'of releas ing the cord, I secure a rod18 to the outer face of the spring-plate 15 and extend this rod throughaportion of' the counter or any othersuitable support, as at 19, to apoint at or near the edge of the counter, soas to be Obviously any othersuitable clamping device for the cord may be employed.

The upper end of the tubular upright 6 is closed by means ofa plug 20fast therein, and over this plug'may be placed a metal cap 2],preferably brazed to the upright 6. Extend ing from the top of theupright 6 down a suit able distance is a slot 22, adapted to receive aclamping device 23 for holding the goods. This clamping device consists,among other parts, of an elongated metal plate 24 adaptedtofit the slot22, and a clamping member 25,fulcrume'd, as at 26 to a lug 27 on theplate 24. One end of the member is held nor- The tube 2 is screw mallyin engagement with the plate 24 by a suitable spring 28.' The plate 24ishinged, by means of lugs 29 thereon and a pin 30, to an extension 31 onthe plate 32, brazed or otherwise made fast to the interior of the tube6, so that the clamping device may be closed, as shown in Fig. 3, oropened outward, as in Fig. 4.

slot 22 and is flush with the exterior of the upright 6, so as not tointerfere with the passage of the upper end of the said. uprightdownward through the guide-tube 2. The plate 24 opens outward againstthe tension of a spring 33, made fast to the interior of the uprighttube 6 the said spring acting to normally hold the plate 24 closed'byengaging its lower'end, as shown in Fig. 3. This spring also acts tohold the said platein position when opened outward, as'in Fig. 4'. Astop 34 on'theplate 32 limits the outward'move ment of the upper endthereof by engaging the plate 24 In addition to the clamping device 23may provide supporting-arms, which consist, preferably, ofhighly-polished or plated metal rods 35 and 36, adapted to extendoutward from the upper end of the upright 6 to support goods for displayand to be dropped down into the upright out of the way to allow theupper end of the same to pass without obstruction into the collar 2. and36 are adapted to pass, respectively, through-openings 37 and 38 in theupper end of the sides of the tube 6, and when in the op erativeposition (shown in Fig. 1) to rest upon the bottom of said openings. Inthis position the inner ends of the said rods engage the lower face ofthe plug 20 and are thus held horizontally, the lower face of'the plug20 being recessed, as at 20, to receive the inner ends of said'rods.prevented from'being pulled-out of the tube 6 by collars or annularflanges 35 and36, respectively, thereon near their inner ends. In orderto permit these rods to be turned up ward in the direction of the arrow,Fig; 5, for dropping them into thetube 6, the plug 20 and cap 21 areprovided with openings 39 and40, which communicate with the top of theopenings 37 and 38, respectively. The said rods are provided with heads41' and 42, respectively, which engage shoulders 43 and. 44 in theopenings 39'and 40, respectively, which shoulders support the rodsvertically when dropped into the tubular upright 6. (See Fig. 5.) I

I may provide for'the rods 35 and 36 guidecasings 45 and 46, locatedwithin the tube 6 and preferably flared at their upper ends, as at 47.These, however, maybe omitted, as desired. I

When the device is not in use'forexhibiting goods, the rods 35 and36aredropped into the end of the tubular upright, as described, i and'theclamping device 23 is closedthat is,

When closed, the plate 24 entirely closes the These rods'35 The rods 35and36 are IIO it is placed in the position shown most clearly in Fig.3and the upright is pushed down to the position shown in dotted lines inFig. 1.

hen it is desired to exhibit goods, the upright 6 is made to pass upwardfor a short distance say six or eight inches. done by pulling the rod 18and releasing the cord 11 for a time. When the upright 6 has ascended tothe desired extent, the mere releasing of the rod 18 will cause thespringplate 15'to grip the cord, thus stopping the upward movement ofthe upright. If silk goods are to be displayed, I prefer to use theclamp 23 alone as the means for retaining the goods on the stand, andassuming that such goods are to be displayed the spring-clamp 23 is thenopened outward. goods 18, for example, which it is desired to display,is then bunched for draping and clamped by means of the clamping device23 by inserting the goods between the plate 24 and the member 25, thegoods falling from the top of the upright down upon the counter. Thesalesman then pulls the rod 18 and again releases the cord and weight,when the upright will continue on its ascent. The upward travel of theupright will be limited by the engagement of the stop 8 with the buffer7. The result of this is a natural draping of the goods from the uprightto the counter, (see Fig. 2,) producing the effect practicallyunattainable by present methods.

In exhibiting dress goods, including Wool and other heavy goods, Iprefer to use the rods 35 and 36 for supporting the goods, in which caseinstead of opening the clamping device 23, as above described, the rods35 and 36 are pulled up and allowed to drop to the horizontal position,(shown in Fig. 1,) whereupon the goods may be thrown over them. Ifdesired, however, I may use both the clamping device 23 and the rods 35and 36 at the same time for holding the goods. After the goods have beenexhibited and there is no further use for the display-stand the rods 35and 36 may he dropped into the tubular upright and the clamp 23 closed,as described, after which the whole may be placed out of the way bypushing the upright down into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig.1 beneath the counter. In order to do this, however, it is firstnecessary to release the spring-clamp 15 from the cord.

\Vhat I claim is- 1. The combination with a store-counter, of a tubularguideway made fast to and extending through the top of said counter, anelongated metal tube mounted for vertical movement in said guideway,supporting means carried near the upper end of said elongated tube tohold the goods to be displayed, and mechanism acting to cause saidelongated tube to travel upward from the top of said counter.

2. The combination with a store-counter,

This is The piece of of a tubular guideway made fast to and extendingthrough the top of said counter, an elongated metal tube mounted forvertical movement in said guideway, supporting means to hold the goodsto be displayed, said means movably mounted on said elongated tube nearits upper end to be inclosed within said tube to allow the same to passunobstructed into said guideway, and to extend outward from said uprightin supporting the goods, means comprising a cord attached to the uprightand a weight attached to the cord to impart vertical movement to saidupright, and a catch cooperating with said cord to hold said uprightagainst the downward pull of said weight.

3. The combination with a store-counter, of a display-stand comprisingan upright mounted for movement up and down through the top of saidcounter, a supporting device carried by said upright near its upper endto hold the goods to be displayed, means comprising a cord attached tothe upright at its lower end and a weight depending from said cord andmovable to raise said upright, and a catch to engage said cord and holdsaid upright against the downward pull of said weight.

l. In a display-stand, the combination with a stationary guide, anupright made hollow at one end and mounted for movement longitudinallythrough said guide, a springclamp hinged Within the hollowed end of saidupright, supporting-rods movably mounted in said end of said upright tocooperate with said spring-clamp in holding the goods to be displayed,said spring-clamp and said rods adapted when not supporting goods to beinclosed in said hollowed end of said upright so as to not form anobstruction on the exterior of said upright to the movement of saidupright through said guide, and mechanism to impart upward movement tosaid upright: 4

5. The combination with a store-counter, of a display-stand, comprisingan upright mounted for movement up and down through the top of saidcounter so as not to extend above the counter-top when at its lowerlimit, me ans comprising a clamping device and supporting-rods to holdthe goods to be displayed, said clamping device and rods being mountedon the said upright near its upper end to be inclosed in said upright toallow the same to pass unobstructed through said counter, and to extendoutward therefrom in supporting the goods, means comprising a cord andfalling weight to impart upward movement to the said upright, and acatch to hold said upright against the downward'pull of said weight.

6. A display-stand, comprising a hollowed upright having aperturesthrough its sides and top communicating with said hollowed portion, arod passing through each of said apertures, a stop on each of said rodsto limit a and arranged forthe support and display of dry goods, of adisplay-stand mounted for movement longitudinally up and down throughsaid surface, means to automatically impart upi Ward travel to saidstand and to retain said i stand in desired positions in itslongitudinal travel, goods-retaining means mounted on said stand andcollapsible thereinto to permit said stand to pass unobstructed throughsaid supporting-surfacev In testimony whereof I affix my signature inpresence of two Witnesses.

WVILLIAM HOLT GLENN.

Witnesses FRANCIS S- MAGUIRE, VERNON E. WEsT.

